The Dutchess County Department of History’s primary responsibility is to preserve and promote our understanding of the county’s past and how it impacts us today. In pursuing these objectives, we work closely with our partners in county government and in the community at large. The department collaborates with more than 100 historical organizations in the county, ranging from the municipal historians and historical societies to preservation groups and historic sites. We provide assistance to the County Clerk with records management projects, and conduct research and exhibit work in conjunction with other county departments. The department collaborates with Dutchess County Tourism and the numerous historic destinations in Dutchess to offer active heritage tourism opportunities throughout the year. We also field inquiries from the general public, providing information and connecting individuals to specialists in the field.

Business Hours:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday

Researchers should be aware that most archival material preserved at the county level relates to the operations of county government from the eighteenth century onwards. Our holdings are rich in court records, tax rolls, deeds, and similar documents. We do not house material generated by municipal governments, which are held in those localities, nor do we possess many sources relating to genealogy. The Dutchess County Historical Society and the Dutchess County Genealogical Societies, along with various state-level departments, hold the majority of genealogical files relating to past inhabitants of the county.